ECOWAS Hands Over Assistive Devices to Children with Disabilities in Nigeria
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken a significant step towards promoting disability inclusion by formally handing over assistive devices to children with disabilities in Nigeria. This initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at expanding access to assistive technology, encouraging local production, and strengthening national systems for disability support.
The intervention is part of ECOWAS’ intensified efforts to improve the lives of persons with disabilities across West Africa. Implemented under the ECOWAS Regional Programme for the Provision of Assistive Devices to Children with Disabilities in West Africa, the donation marks the first phase of the initiative. Nigeria and Togo are the first beneficiaries of the programme, which was launched after nearly two years of planning and implementation.
At the handover ceremony in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Chief Ayuba Gufwan, described the occasion as one of the happiest moments of his life. He emphasized that the distribution of equipment represents more than just the provision of devices; it restores dignity, independence, and opportunity to persons with disabilities.
Gufwan highlighted that assistive devices enable individuals to participate fully in education, employment, and community life. “There is ability in disability,” he said. “No matter the severity of a person’s disability, with the right environment and appropriate assistive devices, everyone can contribute meaningfully to humanity.”
He noted that while an estimated nine out of every 10 persons with disabilities require one form of assistive technology or another, the overwhelming majority still lack access. This exclusion leaves millions without education, healthcare, employment, and independent living opportunities. In Nigeria alone, more than 26 million persons with disabilities require assistive technology, but demand far exceeds supply.
To address this challenge, the NCPWD has established a dedicated Assistive Devices and Technology Unit to coordinate national efforts, improve service delivery, and deepen collaboration with development partners. The Commission, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and international partners, has also developed key policy instruments such as the Nigerian Priority Assistive Products List, an investment case for assistive technology, and a National Assistive Technology Scale-up Plan.
Gufwan stressed that an assistive device achieves its purpose only when it matches the functional needs of the individual. He urged governments, development partners, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, and the private sector to deepen collaboration towards sustainable access to assistive technology. He also advocated for the establishment of local manufacturing and assembly plants for assistive devices, arguing that domestic production would reduce dependence on imports, lower costs, and stimulate innovation.
Representing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Barnard Doro, the Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister on Humanitarian Affairs reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities. He described the donation as more than a humanitarian intervention, aligning with the ministry’s integrated approach that combines humanitarian response with poverty reduction and social protection.
Earlier, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, represented by officials of the Commission, explained that the programme was initiated following a regional disability inclusion study conducted in 2024. The findings revealed severe shortages in access to assistive technology across West Africa, prompting ECOWAS to prioritise interventions targeting mobility, communication, learning, and participation.
According to the Commission, about 240 million children worldwide live with disabilities, while approximately 15 per cent of children aged between zero and 17 years in West and Central Africa have one form of disability. Despite the global need for assistive technology, access remains extremely limited, particularly in low-income countries where affordability, inadequate services, and weak policy implementation continue to exclude millions.
ECOWAS said its regional programme aligns with Vision 2050, which seeks to build “a fully integrated community of peoples living in a peaceful and prosperous region, supported by strong institutions, respect for fundamental rights and inclusive, sustainable development.” The initiative is anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recognises accessibility as a fundamental human right.
For both ECOWAS and Nigeria, the ceremony signalled more than the distribution of mobility aids and other equipment. It reflected a growing regional commitment to ensuring that disability is no longer a barrier to education, employment, participation, or opportunity, while laying the foundation for a more inclusive West Africa where assistive technology is available, affordable, and accessible to everyone who needs it.
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